Personalized Best of South Africa Safari

Lioness and two cubs in South Africa

What to expect on this itinerary

The Rainbow Nation is yours to explore on this astounding 12-day adventure leading from Cape Town to Madikwe Game Reserve. Tailormade to spotlight the fascinating local culture, remarkable history, and heritage, as well as the wondrous unspoiled wilderness, this journey across South Africa is set to reveal a country more beautiful than one may believe made possible through participating in an array of enchanting activities.

Countries Visited

South Africa

Places Visited

Cape Town, Franschhoek, Kapama Private Game Reserve, Madikwe Game Reserve

Suggested Duration

12 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Cape Town - Paradise on the Shores of the Western Cape

Table Mountain climbs to the clouds from Cape Town city’s borders, velvety beaches hug the coastline that wraps around Cape Peninsula, and emerald wilderness havens sweep slices of the Western Cape’s cosmopolitan jewel destination. You will gaze upon these mesmerizing scenes as your airplane approaches the international airport and you transfer with your private driver to an accommodation tucked away in Bantry Bay. With views of the sparkling sea ahead and scenes of the soaring mountains behind, you will feel swept away by the paradise shores of the Western Cape.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Cape Town - Unraveling the History of the Rainbow Nation

Day 3

Cape Town - Beauty Beyond the City’s Borders

Day 4

Franschhoek - Seclusion in the Emerald Franschhoek Valley

Day 5

Franschhoek - The Fabulous Flavors of Franschhoek’s Wines

Day 6

Kapama Private Game Reserve - The Starry South African Sky

Day 7

Kapama Private Game Reserve - Searching the Bushveld for the Big Five

Day 8

Kapama Private Game Reserve - Unique Animal Encounters in Kapama

Day 9

Madikwe Game Reserve - Your Second Stay in Wildlife Paradise

Day 10

Madikwe Game Reserve - Meandering through Majestic Madikwe

Day 11

Madikwe Game Reserve - Fine Dining amongst the Green

Day 12

Madikwe Game Reserve - Slow, Radiant Mornings in the African Bush

Trip Highlights

  • Witness the wonderful scenes of Cape Town from atop Table Mountain and discover the history of the Rainbow Nation at iconic cultural landmarks peppering its diverse districts
  • Discover the fascinating untamed wilderness that surrounds Cape Town city as you cruise along the Cape Peninsula towards the spectacular tip of Africa at the Cape Point Nature Reserve
  • Find refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city in the evergreen rolling hills of the Franschhoek Valley, where some of the country’s finest vineyards are grown to produce exemplary wines
  • Cruise across the luxuriant Franschhoek Valley to elite wine estates, alongside a knowledgeable guide, for superb wine tasting tours of prestigious vintages led by sommeliers as well as tours of the wineries’ cellars
  • Soak up the splendors of the African wilderness from the comfort of your game reserve camp in Kapama, gazing upon the bright stars in a region unaffected by light pollution
  • Ride through the forested lands of Kapama during sunrise and in the evening to discover the marvelous animals and curious critters dwelling in the bushveld, as well as search for the famous Big Five
  • Journey across the golden pastures and emerald grasslands of Madikwe in search of more marvelous wildlife encounters
  • Tuck into an array of delectable South African dishes prepared by master chefs and enjoyed alongside panoramas of Madikwe’s spectacular environments

Starting Price

$8,100 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1201 reviews

Melvyn H.
South Africa Vacation Review: Winelands, Franschhoek, Safari, Big Five, 6-Day Trip

Zicasso's trip expert was a pleasure to work with. I received great communication from beginning to end. He helped when one of our hotels had a fire and we had to relocate, and with a flight cancellation. All of our facilities were excellent. I would highly recommend the tour company for any trips/safaris!

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Phillip H.
South Africa Travel Review: Safari, 2-Week Trip

Zicasso's travel designer was responsive and professional, and provided a perfectly organized, amazing experience.

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Terri K.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Travel Review: Cape Town, Winelands, Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls, Boulders Beach, Big Five, Penguins, 12 Nights

Cape Town was lovely. Our tour guide was great. He knew his history about Cape Town. He answered every question we asked. Our guide had a great rapport with my daughter. He was very trusting.

Our tour of the Cape Winelands was great! Our guide knew a lot about wine. Our stay at the guesthouse was lovely. We were very comfortable with the staff.

Our stay at the safari lodge was very special. We were treated like royalty. Our safari guide was the best. He knew about every animal we encountered. He took us on safari twice a day, morning and late afternoon. We saw the Big Five—elephants, Cape buffalo, rhino, leopard, and lions.

Our last tour was of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and knew where the best places were to get the best view of the falls.

Our first trip to Africa was beyond our expectations.

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Veena B.
South Africa Vacation Review: Safari, 17 Nights

There was excellent communication before and during the trip. Zicasso's travel designer was always available for questions and provided great suggestions when we had to make adjustments to our itinerary or we had a special request.

The planned itinerary was executed perfectly and all transfers and handoffs were flawless.

The accommodations were great.

Overall, the trip significantly exceeded our expectations.

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Adrienne M.
South Africa Vacation Review: Safari, 12 Nights

Zicasso's travel designer and her team planned the trip of a lifetime for us! Everything was absolutely wonderful.

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Maria L.
South Africa Vacation Review: Johannesburg, Soweto, Safari, Traditional Meal, 6-Night Trip

The itinerary was amazing. I had no real idea what a safari would look like. Zicasso's travel designer talked to me about what our ideal travel experience would be for this trip. We got a mixture of locations. We were able to see the Big Five and other animals, exceeding our expectations. We had wonderful food and people at each location.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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